There was a dark moment in Kampala when a number 10 people died in a stampede on new year’s eve at Freedom City on the 31st.
On the 31st of December, 2022, at the onset of the new year, a number 10 people died in a stampede after there was panic among revelers whereby many of them stepped on themselves at an end-of-year concert as they were going to see fireworks. This was so terrible, no one would want to go for a day out and end up with problems. Secondly, no parent would want to lose their children in any way. My sincere condolences go out to families that lost their relatives in the Freedom City tragedy.
Many people came out to criticize the organizer of this concert who is called Abbey Musinguzi aka ABITEX PROMOTIONS for negligence. While others faulted Uganda police and others faulted the owner of the venue. In all this, it is only ABITEX that was arrested, which is not fair. However, I believe that all the stakeholders in this concert should be interrogated and a solution forged. The vice President, Honourable Jessica Alupo gave five million Shillings to the parents that lost their children in that unfortunate incident.
To reduce incidences similar to that of Freedom City, I suggest that both revelers and event organizers should be cautious in the following ways;
Concerts should be staged in open places such as open fields which allow people to leave securely in case of any scare. In cases where a concert is organized in an enclosed place, it makes it so hard for people to leave in a secure way. The exits are usually narrow and cant let many people go through leading to a commotion.
Parents should avoid moving with little children at concerts. If people go with little children at these concerts, it makes it hard for them to control them. Children often move away from you and get lost at times putting themselves at risk of even being kidnapped. When you look at Freedom City, most of the people that died were children because, in such a stampede, they become helpless.
In case a parent takes the children to a concert because he /she doesn’t have a helper at home to leave the children with, then they should ensure that they take the children back home by 6 pm to rest so that the parents can come back to the venue to enjoy, but without children. This will minimize the danger to children in these concerts.
The organizers should ensure that the venue is properly safe and that all the gates are fully open so that revelers can pass through properly without a fuss in case of a scare.
People should not get so drunk at these functions because in case there is a problem, a very drunk person is helpless and is at risk of getting problems. Security should also refuse to clear events that seem not to be secure, this helps to minimize loss of lives and property.
Otherwise, I wish the Almighty God touches the hearts of all the people who lost their relatives at Freedom City. Stay blessed.
